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VIETNAM VETERANS NEED OUR HELP!

There is a new bill being introduced that will help thousands of Vietnam Veterans in their fight for recognition to the exposure to Agent Orange.  The House bill, H.R. 543 “The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2013” has been presented and is currently under review.  This bill is to clarify presumptions relating to the exposure of the “Blue Water Navy” veterans who served in the Territorial Waters of the Republic of Vietnam to Agent Orange.  Currently, there are 197 co-sponsors for this bill.

History:  prior to 2002, any veteran who received the “Vietnam Service” medal was granted presumptive exposure to the 14 diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure.  In 2002, the Veterans Administration changed the rules.  It now required the veteran to have set foot on Vietnam soil or was on patrol on the inland waterways in order to qualify for exposure to the Agent Orange.

I am asking that you contact your Congressman asking for their support of this very important bill.

The process is pretty simple, just follow these steps:

 On internet explorer, you need to type in, or click:  http://www.fra.org/ this is for the Fleet Reserve Association.

1.      Click on “Advocacy”, and then click on “Action Center”.

2.      Scroll down until you find Support Agent Orange Reform for “Blue Water” Navy Veterans, (H.R. 543).  Click on H.R. 543.

a.       Scroll down and enter your zip code where it says “Take Action Now”.  Click on GO!

b.      Enter the requested information, i.e. Name and Sender Information.

c.      Confirm the box is checked that says “Remember Me”. This will help you if you go back in at a later date for Senate bill updates.

d.      Uncheck the box that says “Sign me up for the Action E-List.

e.      Click Send Message.

 

This bill states “Blue Water Navy Veterans, but also encompasses Marines, Army and Air Force personnel that were stationed aboard a Navy vessel in the Territorial waters of the Republic of Vietnam.

 

 If you have not signed up for Veteran’s email, go to http://VNVets.blogspot.com to sign up for alerts on information concerning Veteran’s issues.

 

I will send out information on the Senate version when it becomes available!

 

That’s it! Thank you in advance for assisting our Veterans in getting this bill passed!